slow down to live your life

::take a good look at my face::

If you are in Edinburgh between now and march 12th might i recommend you check out the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street in the New Town, specifically to see the BP Portrait Award 2005

...an amazing collection. i met one of the artists, david martin, at a party our host, the delightful Wendy, threw. he said he thought his portrait, ::the end of the festival::, was "pretty shit" beside the other pieces. it wasn't. it was incredible.

in addition to the lovely coffee for good causes, common grounds cafe is also featuring portraiture for good causes this month. ricky has a selection of beautiful photographic portraits from his wanderings in south east asia on the walls. profits from their sale will go to charities in the region.


::the sublime::

sometime in the coming months i'll be moving. as i struggle to articulate the overwhelmedness that provokes this morning, this is bringing solace...a slowing down...

i am currently listening to the new dennison witmer album, are you a dreamer? thanks to Jude for spreading the love. i said i'd pay it forward so this is it.
buy it here. you will not be disappointed. beautiful. haunting. blessing. dreamy.

here's how the album ends...

Finding your feet again

this is what it's like
finding your feet again
the part of you that couldn't
finally thinks you can

you're taking off some time to do this
a small aprtment bedroom rearranged
to know that you are loved
you're finding your feet again
the part of you that couldn't
finally thinks you can

a brownstone lines a street in brooklyn
the lights here flash from temperature to time
and people do the same
you're falling asleep again
part of you is dreaming
and part of you is dreamt

go now in the light of your God
go now in the love of your God
go now in the peace of your God
go now in the joy of your God

(sufjan stevens and the unmistakable sound of karen peris from the innocence mission do backing vocals)

as with all this wonderful guy's work, it's blissful and nurturing and tender, with chord changes that crack the heart however many times you hear them. i always think listening to his music is an act of kindness to yourself. you'll never regret it.


::the ridiculous::

i got this email today from peteR:

"OK one of my worries over the years concerns what happens when I am raptured and my Pagan friends are left behind - well I know you have worried as well. So check out http://raptureletters.com/ "


::the journey::

tonight ::tuesday group:: opens its arms to welcome Padraig into our midst. at greenbelt he was our chef. for the next five weeks he his our guide. we are taking a walk through Luke's gospel to meet 5 women of wisdom. and along the way we will be exploring Ignatius of Loyola: his way of prayer and being fully alive, in all its simplicity and specialness.

may it help us unfurl into who we truly are.


::thanks::

for friendship, beautiful intention, empowerment, graciousness, and chuckling, on what could have been a far harder Monday than it turned out to be:

jayne, ricky, michael, and willow... you have my gratitude.


be still. be at peace. let go. live. and love.

LB,x